Fancy a Career as a Nail Technician ? - Holly Barry

Why
a career as a Nail Technician could be the best career path for you this New
Year

Until quite recently, hair stylists and beauty therapists tended to
operate quite separately from one another, each having their own salon or
treatment rooms. However, things are evolving in the hair and beauty industry,
and at present, it is common for both hair and beauty treatments to coincide
next to one another. This is a match made in beauty heaven
- after all, if a customer is looking for a cut and blow dry, they may well be
interested in some additional treatments, such as having their nails shaped and
painted to match their new over-haul.

The range of nail
treatments available
has multiplied over the years, from simple manicures and pedicures to gels,
acrylics, airbrush designs and overlays. This growth in the range of treatments
offered means that career opportunities for nail technicians have expanded
dramatically.

As a nail technician, you could choose to operate on a self-employed basis, or
you could work for an international beauty brand. You could be based in a local
salon or spa, or you could travel around the country, promoting products in
stores and at events. There are even opportunities to work on cruise ships,
travelling the world whilst working in an upmarket on-board salon.

Paws on the Facts

This industry has seen phenomenal growth in recent years, and a career
as a nail technician is now seen as an aspirational choice, with plenty of
opportunities for progression. Let’s look at some statistics, to show
just how ‘big business’ the nail industry has become:

In 2014, the global annual spend on nail tech
reached $8.54 billion

In the UK, the average woman spends £450 per
year on her nails, visiting a nail salon on average twice a month

Globally, over 89,000 bottles of OPI nail
polish are sold every day. That’s a staggering 61 bottles per minute!

George Schaeffer, the founder of nail giant
OPI, was originally a taxi driver. How’s that for a successful career
change?

As a nail technician, you could expect to earn
up to £25,000, with celebrity-endorsed specialists earning considerably
more than that.

It is clear to see that nail treatments have become a mainstay of most
women’s beauty regimes. From a simple French manicure to a full set of gel or
acrylic extensions, women from all over the world over have started to embrace their nails like never
before.

Clawing the Rewards

One great thing about becoming a nail technician is that there are no
fixed requirements or qualifications needed to start. Of course, if you’re
serious about becoming a nail technician, youshould aim for
a recognised certificate in nail technology or sign on to a programme in manicuring to start, as
these will definitely help you on your newly carved career path into beauty.

A career as a nail technician can be a very creative and rewarding one.
As a professional nail technician, you will have the personal satisfaction that
comes with making clients feel happy and confident. There are few careers where
you can indulge your artistic creativity all day, but working in the nail
industry will allow you to do exactly that. The most talented nail technicians
do quite literally create miniature works of art on their clients’ nails. With
celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Rihanna and Rita Ora all championing the
skills of their personal nail technicians, the sky could genuinely be the
limit, in terms of where your career takes you.

Another advantage of working as a nail technician is the flexibility it
offers. From working in a salon, either as an employee or in a self-employed
capacity, through to running your own salon or mobile nail bar, there are nail
tech openings to suit everyone’s needs and requirements.

Nailing
the Trends for 2017

The nail industry is one of the most creative sectors of the beauty
world. Nails are every bit as much a fashion item as clothing and jewellery are,
so it pays to keep up to date on the latest trends. So just what is predicted
to be a hot topic next year?

As the New Year starts, fashion bloggers are predicting that ultra-dark
polishes will be on trend, ranging from jet black lacquers to deep plum shades
and deep, deep purples. To add some glamour to these sensual colours, crystals,
pearls and glitters are all set to make their mark in 2017.

So called ‘cuticle jewellery’ is another trend that looks set to wow UK
women in 2017. Starting with a clear base lacquer, glitter polish is then
applied just to the edge of the cuticle, leaving most of the nail free of
polish. This look is understated but oh so confident.

Filing
the Career for you

It’s clear to see that the nail industry is on the up, with a manicure
now seen as just as much of an essential for most women as having a haircut. A career as a nail
technician is a creative and fulfilling one, with
plenty of opportunities to take things as far as your ambition and talent will
let you. Who knows...with hard work, study, creative flair and a keen eye on
the latest trends, in a few years’ time you could be working alongside fashion
designers, for a prestigious beauty brand or even in your own salon. You never
know where the next year could take you…